Congenital Varicella (Chicken Pox) whilst pregnant

I recently went thru ivf and was lucky to fall pregnant. However during the transfer process where the sperm is joined with the egg, my husband was suffering from chicken pox.

We have now been told that there is a chance that the sperm may have infected the fetus with the virus - irrespective of the fact that I did not contract the virus myself at the time and have sufficient antibodies.

I was wondering if anyone out there has been in a similar position - ie contracted chicken pox during pregnancy and what advice your ob/gyn gave.

We have been told its a 0.4-2% chance that the virus will have infected (with pretty nasty results).

I am beside myself with worry. I realise the odds are low but the risk is still there.

Asking what a horrible stress to have, i wish i could offer you some advise. Did the Dr say there were any tests (amnio) you could do to see if this actually happened? I hope you get some anwers here ood luck you and hubby are in my thoughts.

I was wondering the same thing... usually if there is a risk of something like this being transmitted, wouldn't the doc say something before the fact??

Our doc was out of the country at the time and left the decision making to his colleague. I had already started the injections when we found out that my hubby had CP. I was then asked to have a blood test to check my antibody levels - these came back sufficient.

My hubby was not allowed anywhere near the hospital because (we were told) they didnt want to take the risk of him infecting other pregnant women on the ward. There was never at any time any mention of concern they had that I/the foetus would be at risk.

To be honest I dont think his colleague thought we would be successful first time because they told us that the eggs werent as good as they'd hoped.

In the event we got pregnant! When my doc returned the only comment he made was that 'he wouldnt have gone thru with it if he was there' - the way he said this indicated again to the risk to the ward and the lab - not to us.

The problem we have now is that the only known reports are about women contracting CP whilst pregnant and the % risk involved. What we dont know is the % risk of the sperm carrying the virus - irrespective that I didnt contract the disease myself. Is it the same as if I had contracted it - ie 0.4-2%, less or more?

OK, 99% it will be ok is good odds, but these are odds based on the mother having the virus - not the virus being carred from the sperm directly into the egg.

Forgot to mention...Unfortunately there are no tests at the moment to check for this disease (unlike Downs - which by the way has a higher chance of happening). The doc says she will only be able to check that everything is progressing as expected - ie brain size, limb development, liver etc. The only thing that may be an indicator are lesions on the skin that may show up on the scan - however this may not be until very late in the pregnancy to do anything about it. Basically we wont know for definite until the baby is born.

Wow, I'm really sorry you are going through so much stress. Strange coming from me, but if there's really nothing you can do about it now, relax and enjoy your pregnancy! I'm sure there'll be a bonny baby at the end of it!

Hi Asking! I am so sorry to hear about the CP. But just keep praying and hope for thr best. Cos u were one of those lucky once who got pregnant the first time yo did any fertility treatment. So dont worry too much. As veryone else has mentioned I think its quiet a rare occurence that no one would have thought about or read. Have you tried doing surches on the net? Good luck with your pregnancy and hope all goes well.

Thanks for your kind words.

The risk factor is from a number of sources - from doc and what we have researched ourselves on the web. However this is the risk factor if the mother contracts CP whilst pregnant and not by way of fathers sperm thru ivf. Our doc reckons our risk is probably lower - between 0.4-1%.

A friend of mine spoke to a doc friend who asked if the spots where out at the time of ivf retrieval - which they were. He has told us that the risk should be even less (actually he said its not worth worrying about). Apparantely once the spots are out the virus has left the body and you are no longer contageous - ie wont pass it on.

If this is really the case then great! We are just carrying on as normal and trying to remain positive. What else can you do?!

Asking man everytme i go to email you i feel so helpless i wish i could give you the answer to your questions and help put your concerns to rest. It's just such an awful thing to be going thru when it should be so joyous after waiting so long to get pregnant. Why don't you ask another Dr if what your friends DR friend is true get a second opinion on whether the viurs is not in the body once the spots are are seen. Then is that is seconded you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy like your suppose to!